0ur ubiquitous moderator prognosticates 12 - I never you to be so optimistic as this could one of those nagging injury for the season.

It does not bode well that Henry is not going to get many reps preseason as he and Cutler are clearly not yet on the same page (see handoff in Dallas and not breaking off routes during blitz reads). He can run well, but the first game could be . . . a little ugly as we will be blitzed to death.

If defense surrenders 200 + yards rushing per game and puts no pressure on QB, as evidence by effort so far, it will be an academic concern.

If defense surrenders 200 + yards rushing per game and puts no pressure on QB, as evidence by effort so far, it will be an academic concern.

The defense will improve as the season progresses - though how good it will end up being is definitely up in the air...

DL:
Lots of potential here, which is another way of saying these guys aren't playing particularly well right now. Elvis & the Rookies will improve (perhaps Gordon too?), Sam Adams will get tired and the rest aren't much more than filler.

LB:
Despite my hopes for DJ in the middle, I have to agree with njx9 that the move hasn't paid off so far. Webster might be a better fit, with DJ to WLB and Gold into the garbage... which further underscores the need for a stud SLB though the draft or FA.

DB:
Champ is the champ, so we're 25% there right from the get go. Bly *will* get burned on occasion - ask any Detroit fan about that. However, he'll also make some big plays. Lynch plays like a LB - big hits, crappy coverage. The rest are question marks, though perhaps Abdullah will emerge as a player.

Anyway, I think it would be wise to brace for a rocky start will some nice developments around mid-season. At least the offense has the firepower to put up points while the defense gets its affairs in order...

At S, all we really need is someone to help Bly over the top, and put Lynch in the box. That's not gonna be an easy secondary to move the ball on. You've got Champ on one side, and Bly with help on the other. And if you run, we have a guy who's still one of the best 8th men in the NFL. We just need the front seven to work well. It's a shame Wilson got hurt.

Sources have learned that the Broncos currently have 5 trade offers for Mike Bell. Our sources tell us that Shanahan has decided to put the decision in Mike Bell's lap. We've been told that Shanahan has spoken with Bell and laid his role out in the Broncos offense as a fullback who provides spot carries for a change of pace ("in essence," the Full Back role that Mike Anderson manned for so many years). Our sources tell us that the teams involved are Indianapolis, Green Bay, Baltimore, St. Louis, and Atlanta, with the trade offers being conditional 5th - 7th round picks.. Ultimately, the decision to depart from Denver has been put in Mike Bell's lap, leaving it up to him to decide what he thinks is best for him.

Where is Washington on this list, I was certain we would have a trade with Washington by now!

As far as Rice, I do not see 10 plus sacks but I see Rice as being a great rotational player to add impressive depth - especially on 3rd and long downs substitutions.

Looking at the team as we now see it, subject to injury, what are your thoughts on our draft needs next year:

My thoughts are :
1. Replace Lynch (I know that I am anti-Lynch but he is too slow)
2. Linebacker - we need a MLB so DJ can move outside and Gold can be traded to washington for a second - sixth round pick, or an outside linbacker to replace Gold (which by the way Gold is a description of the weight of his arms because it would appear he cannot move them to try and wrap up a player).
3. Depth on the Offensive Line
4. a very large RB for those short yardage / inside the 10 situations

Lynch starting wouldn't be too awful if we got a great cover guy and kept Lynch near the line. Bly and Bailey could probably do well enough that a great coverage guy could cover for them if they ever faltered.

i see everyone kinda doggin lynch for his covereage skills but i remember when we beat the pats in the playoffs about 2 years ago when lynch had a pick lol it was probally more by luck but still..

1. S... id prefer some kinda ballhawk, some guy that could be a playmaker in a few years. last year i wanted reggie nelson so bad but as of now theres no college players that appeal to me.

2. LB... Middle or outside, doesnt really matter. If its middle then we move dj to SAM and kick out Ian Gold. if its outside, leave dj at mike n kick out gold stil.

3. OL... our guys are gettin old. we got ryan harris which is a pretty nice step but id like to see a center or guard tihs year.

4. WR... somebody really fast, so we can use him in the slot and as a returner.

5. RB or CB... at rb we cuold spell and eventually replace travis henry. at CB we would have a future replacement for bailey or bly, lets face it, champ is 29 n bly is 30. i doubt a 5th round CB would fill there shoes but who knows, maybe we get lucky.

lynch is great at playing a zone and getting into passing lanes. he SUCKS at man and deep zones because he just doesn't have the speed to get to the ball before the receiver. which is why i'm still blown away he's at FS.

Would you prefer Ferguson at FS? ;)

No question, this is a clear problem. We need a true centerfielder kind of guy.

so pretty much what you guys would suggest is switching ferguson and lynch..

i wouldnt mind that at all, get lynch up to play run support but i think we need a true playmaker at safety. im not sayin we need an elite safety but we do need a very talented one. theres no hiding that in a few years we will need help at cornerback to sadly. i am truly dreading the loss of champ in the future. but thats not gonna be for a while

personally i like abdulas ball skill, and if we are looking for that centerfielder type to play the deep zone (as it appeared to me that we played alot of cover 1 the past two weeks) how about jamal lewis GT. hes a SS in college but would probably switch to FS in the pros. he has great ball skills and instincts in the run game.